Job Posting: Chief Privacy Auditor

CA Privacy Protection Agency

JC-467480
-
Chief Privacy Auditor
C. E. A.

$13,080.00 - $14,851.00 per Month

Final Filing Date: 4/28/2025

Job Description and Duties

The final filing date on this CEA job exam posting is being extended to April 28, 2025. If you have previously applied, your application packet will be scored and you do not need to re-apply.

Under the administrative direction of the Executive Director and Board, the Chief Privacy Auditor is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, reviewing, and managing the work and staff of the Agency's Audits Division. The Chief Privacy Auditor is also responsible for the overseeing research and implementation of policies regarding a broad range of policy issues related to auditing of an incredibly technically sophisticated and ever evolving subject area pertaining to privacy, cyber security, and automated decision making including Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Chief Privacy Auditor will be responsible for building out the independent audit function of the first agency in the United States created for the sole purpose of protecting the privacy rights of consumers, and in developing its approach to auditing and enforcement. The Chief Auditor will oversee technology experts in the Audit Division conducting privacy and security audits to ensure California's cutting-edge privacy law.

The headquarters for this position may be:
San Francisco - One Sansome Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94104
Los Angeles - 300 S. Spring Street, Suite 15513, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Sacramento - 2101 Arena Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95834

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Minimum Requirements

This position does not have a Classification Specification. Requirements and qualifications for this position can be found in this announcement. For additional questions, please contact the hiring department listed below.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-467480
Position #(s):
411-120-7500-001
Working Title:
Chief Privacy Auditor
Classification:
C. E. A.
$13,080.00 - $14,851.00 C
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
United States
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Career Executive Assignment - Non Tenured, Full Time

Department Information

The California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA)'s mission is to protect Californians' consumer privacy. The Agency implements and enforces the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Its responsibilities include: 1) rulemaking in a highly complicated, technical, sometimes contested, and nuanced area; 2) supporting awareness across California's diverse population on issues related to privacy and data security, including the new rights provided to them by the law; and 3) administrative enforcement of those rights.
Department Website: https://cppa.ca.gov/

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 4/28/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are eligible to be appointed to this Career Executive Assignment (CEA) by the State of California.

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of General Services
Attn: Pa Thao
P.O. Box 989052
West Sacramento, CA 95798-9052

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of General Services
OHR - DROP OFF
Pa Thao
Office of Human Resources
707 3rd Street Suite 7-130, Lobby
West Sacramento, CA 95605
Visitors must use lobby phone to call HR front desk at 916-376-5400 to drop off application between:
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
  • Statement of Qualifications - Responses to the Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) questions will serve as the examination for this position. Applications submitted without an SOQ may be eliminated. Resume or CoverLetters will not be considered a substitute for the SOQ. Please refer to the "Desirable Qualifications" and"Examination Information" sections for more detailed instructions.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Examination Qualification Requirements

All applicants must possess the knowledge and abilities, and any other requirements, described in this announcement.

Note: Eligibility to take a CEA examination does not require current permanent status in the civil service.

Minimum Qualifications

Additional information for Career Executive Assignment (CEA) is located HERE.

General Qualifications

State civil service employees must possess essential general qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and ability to work cooperatively with others.

Knowledge and Abilities

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform high administrative and policy – influencing functions effectively. Such overall ability requires possession of most of the following more specific knowledge and abilities:

A. Knowledge of the organization and functions of California State government including the organization and practices of the Legislature and the Executive Branch; principles, practices and trends of public administration, organization and management; techniques of organizing and motivating groups; program development and evaluation; methods of administrative problem solving; principles and practices of policy formulation and development; personnel management; the manager’s role in labor relations; the manager’s responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion and for maintaining a work environment which is free of discrimination and harassment.

B. Ability to plan, organize and direct the work of multi-disciplinary professional and administrative staff; analyze administrative policies, organization, procedures and practices; integrate the activities of a diverse program to attain common goals; gain the confidence and support of top-level administrators and advise them on a wide range of administrative matters; develop cooperative working relationships with representatives of all levels of government, the public and the Legislative and Executive branches; analyze complex problems and recommend an effective course of action; prepare and review reports; effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

These knowledge and abilities are expected to be obtained from the following kinds of experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation and/or evaluation of program policies (experience may have been paid or volunteer; in State service, other government settings, or in a private organization):

CEA Level A - Responsible for broad administrative and program activities, including the execution and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level B - Responsible for extensive managerial and program administration or broad program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level C - Responsible for extensive highly professional influence and contributes to program, policy, and the methods to provide professional services needed to set policies, to meet the mission of the State department and often exercising technical and or professional skills that are required at this level.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

  • Five or more years’ experience in conducting research, auditing, testing, or forensics on systems that impact consumer privacy.
  • Five or more years of specialized technical expertise in technology research, technology policy, software engineering, or security.
  • Three years or more experience managing technical teams.
  • History of publications in academic journals relating to consumer privacy and related technology. Thorough knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and policies of federal and state, agencies, as well as federal and state legislation pertaining to privacy rights.
  • Deep knowledge of systems and processes that impact consumer privacy and security.
  • Expertise in mobile technology, digital advertising technology, cookies, tracking, and algorithms.
  • Experience in the consulting or legal support fields, ideally related to consumer privacy and related technology.
  • Demonstrated ability to simplify complex technical subjects and communicate them to a lay audience.

Please complete a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) that includes specific examples of your education, training, and/or experience as they relate to the role of Chief Privacy Auditor. An SOQ is a narrative discussion of how the applicant's education, training, experience, and skills meet the Desirable Qualifications for this position. Specifically, address the following in your SOQ response:

 SOQ Questions

1. The Chief Privacy Auditor will oversee research and auditing relating to privacy, cyber security, and automated decision-making technology—including artificial intelligence—at California’s cutting-edge agency devoted to protecting consumer privacy. Please discuss how your research experience and expertise in mobile technology, digital advertising technology, cookies, tracking, and/or algorithms would advance the agency’s function of evaluating the industry’s compliance with privacy protections.

 

2. The Chief Privacy Auditor will build from scratch the country’s first independent audit function relating to consumer privacy. Please discuss your experience in building and managing teams, including your experience building the infrastructure needed to evaluate the technology that implements consumer privacy choices.

 

3. The Chief Privacy Auditor will serve as an important voice for the agency. Please describe your communication style and your experience communicating complex, technical ideas to a generalist audience.


Examination Information

The examination process will consist of a thorough evaluation of the applicant’s SOQ.  Each applicant must complete and submit their SOQ responding to all factors listed in the Desirable Qualifications section above.  Applications without the SOQ may be eliminated from the examination.

If you meet the requirements stated in this announcement, you may take this competitive examination. Possession of the Examination Qualifications requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination will be compared with the performance of others who take this examination, and all successful candidates will be ranked according to their scores.

A minimum rating of 70% must be attained in the Examination to obtain list eligibility for this position. All candidates will receive written notification of their examination results.

The results of this examination will only be used to fill this position. Applications will be retained for twelve months.

Hiring interviews for the Job may be conducted with the most qualified candidates.

The examining Department reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service law and rules and all competitors will be notified.

Special Testing Arrangements

If you have a disability and need special testing arrangements, answer the Reasonable Accommodations question appropriately on your Application (STD 678). You will be contacted to make specific arrangements. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this announcement.

Benefits

The State of California has a generous benefits package Benefits information may be obtained by going to https://www.calhr.ca.gov/Pages/California-State-Civil-Service-Employee-Benefits-Summary.aspx.

In addition, you can look forward to:

  • Defined benefit retirement program
  • Savings Plus Program (401(k), 457)
  • Commute Program
  • Employee Wellness Program
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Medical/Dependent Care Reimbursement Account

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website: https://cppa.ca.gov/
Human Resources Contact:
Pa Thao
(279) 799-4566
Pa.Thao@dgs.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Main line
(916) 376-5127
DGSEEO@dgs.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job